On May 11, 1998, an interview was broadcast on Bay TV (local cable channel
35 in San Francisco) between anchor John Kessler and Dr. Nina Shandler, psychologist.
The following transcription was created by scott richie for Winky.

John Kessler: It's estimated 40 million female baby
boomers are approaching fifty and beginning to suffer the early symptoms of
menopause. When psychologist Nina Shandler had
her first hot flash at 47 she rushed to the doctor for estrogen, the most
prescribed drug in America, I might add. But that made her feel
worse. Her suffering led to nutritional research, and her cookbook,
Estrogen,The Natural Way. Please
welcome Dr. Nina Shandler. Welcome, Nina. How are
you?

Nina Shandler: Good. How are
you today?

John Kessler: I'm not bad. So, what
happened? You went to the doctor, you got estrogen, which, like, most
people do.

Nina Shandler: Yeah. You know,
I was waking up every two hours soaking in my own sweat. It wasn't
pleasant.

John Kessler: Thanks for sharing that with us Nina.

Nina Shandler: Yes. Yes. I
know you wanted to know that. [Laughter]John
Kessler: But it is something a lot of people go
through.

Nina Shandler: Absolutely. So I
got these miracle potions and I expected to take them, and go through a cool
ride to eternal youth, you know. Instead I got nauseous, head- achy,
irritable. I felt like I was going to be pregnant forever and never get to
have the baby.

John Kessler: O.K. So you figured, there's got
to be a better way to do this?

Nina Shandler: I
figured there's got to be a better way. I found out some foods
contain estrogen and that they appear to have the benefits of hormone
replacement therapy, and seem to reduce risk of breast
cancer.

John Kessler: O.K. What foods are we talking
about? Is there a group or - - ?

Nina Shandler:
It's two primary foods, that are very rich in plant estrogens, soy, and
flax seed. But they really can be made into delicious, perfectly normal
food. Really. Really. Honest.

John Kessler: No, No. You saw the face on me.
O.K. I see. Alright. Let's sit down to
dinner. O.K., what did you bring here?

Nina Shandler: Well, that's what you're going to do, sit
down to dinner and we've got something for every time of day. We've got a
little bit of cereal here.

John Kessler: I kind of like them because I like nutty
flavors. That's good.

Nina Shandler:
Yeah. They're great for your heart. Now
what we're going to do next is a little snack. This is some pesto.
And this is made - - oh, I'm going to let you taste it before I tell you
what it's made with.

John Kessler: Alright. Alright.
[Tastes pesto] I have no idea.

Nina Shandler: What it's made
with?

John Kessler: Yeah.

Nina
Shandler: Is it good?

John Kessler: Uh-huh [affirms]

Nina Shandler: O.K. That's the main
thing. It's made with tofu.

John Kessler: O.K.

Nina
Shandler: Yeah, I hate tofu. I absolutely
do. But at some point, I had a tofu
conversion.

John Kessler: So, if we follow... O.K., flax seed
and tofu - - and do you have, like, a recommendation on how much?

Nina Shandler: You need to have about two servings a day to
reduce hot flashes; three or more to reduce risk of osteoporosis and also heart
disease.

John Kessler: Do you do this in lieu of medication, or
can you do it with your medication...is there a problem that you're gonna - -
?

Nina Shandler: You can do it in lieu of
medication, and there's some indication now that actually cancer protective
benefits and bone protective benefits are better if you do it with hormone
replacement therapy, but you don't have to do the hormone replacement therapy.
I don't and I go for months at a time now without a hot
flash.

Nina Shandler:
Yes. I think there is an immediate reaction. Do you have
time to taste some more?

John Kessler: Actually, I don't.

Nina Shandler: Oh, too bad.

John Kessler: The first two were good!

Nina Shandler: Well, that's
good.

John Kessler: I tell you what. Go ahead during
this commercial break and I'll sit here and eat with you.

Nina Shandler: O.K. Great.

John Kessler: Alright. The book is Estrogen,The Natural Way. Doctor, thank you
very much.

Nina Shandler: Thank
you.

[end transcript]

the title of Nina Shandlers
new book is Estrogen,
The Natural Way: Over
250 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Menopause

another great transcription (on perimenopause)
can be found here: www.5medicines.com/perimeno.htmCome
to the Menopause and Black Cohosh Information Center for
informational articles regarding menopause, in-depth analysis of
treatment options, and researched methods of effectively dealing
with menopause.http://www.menopause-black-cohosh.org